U.S. patent application number 12/531932 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-17 for system and method for shopping.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Hyok-Sung Choi, Se-Jun Han, Sang-Kwon Lee, Seong-Kook Shin.
Application Number | 20100153233 12/531932 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40025333 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100153233 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shin; Seong-Kook ; et
al. |
June 17, 2010 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHOPPING
Abstract
Provided are a system and method for shopping, and more
particularly, a system and method for shopping, in which a display
device transmits control authority to a content-providing device
connected by a predetermined communication network, and the
content-providing device receives the control authority, configures
a screen, which includes at least a piece of content, according to
the received control authority and the results of a service
request, and provides the configured screen to the display device
so that the configured screen can be displayed on the display
device.
Inventors: |
Shin; Seong-Kook; (Seoul,
KR) ; Lee; Sang-Kwon; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Choi;
Hyok-Sung; (Seoul, KR) ; Han; Se-Jun;
(Daejeon, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
40025333 |
Appl. No.: |
12/531932 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
March 18, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR08/01525 |
371 Date: |
January 6, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.1 ;
715/733; 715/741; 715/744 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/47815 20130101;
H04N 21/25825 20130101; G06Q 30/0603 20130101; H04N 21/4788
20130101; H04N 21/234363 20130101; H04N 7/147 20130101; G06Q
30/0601 20130101; H04N 21/6582 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/27 ; 715/741;
715/733; 715/744 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20060101
G06Q030/00; G06F 3/00 20060101 G06F003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 19, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0026715 |
Feb 26, 2008 |
KR |
10-2008-0017495 |
Claims
1. A display device comprising: a display module that displays
content; an information-storage module that stores information of a
device that displays user information and the content; a
content-request module that transmits the service request of the
user for the content to a content-providing device along with the
information stored in the information-storage module; and a
content-receiving module that receives content corresponding to the
service request.
2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the content-request
module provides the screen-control authority of the display module
to the content-providing device.
3. The display device of claim 1, wherein the user information
includes at least the user name, phone number, and address of the
user.
4. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display device
information includes the model name, version, screen resolution,
printing resolution, CODEC and storage medium of the display
device.
5. A content-providing device comprising: an authentication module
that performs authentication for the display unit that receives the
provided content and the user that views the content; a control
module that generates identification information for a service
request corresponding to the content transmitted from the display
device, and manages the service state information for the
identification information; and a content-reconfiguration module
that the screen of the display device based on the control command
of the shopping assistant that has registered the content for the
service request.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the authentication module
performs authentication through the user information transmitted
from the display device and the display device information.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the control module transmits the
identification information, the user information, the display
device information, and content information corresponding to the
service request to the shopping assistant.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the shopping assistant tries to
connect to the user based on the transmitted information.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the shopping assistant transmits
the waiting time information to be waited until a connection is
tried, and the control module transmits the waiting time
information to the display device.
10. The device of claim 8, wherein the shopping assistant
reconfigures the screen of the display device by controlling the
content-reconfiguration module based on the information exchanged
with the user when connected to the user.
11. The device of claim 5, wherein if cancellation of the service
request is transmitted from the display device, the control module
deletes the deleted identification information, and transmits the
cancellation of the service request to the shopping assistant.
12. A method of operating a display device, the method comprising:
displaying content; transmitting the service request of the user
for the content along with the user information and information of
a device that displays the content to the content-providing device;
and receiving content corresponding to the service request.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitting of the service
request to the content-providing device includes transmitting the
screen-control authority that displays the content.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the user information includes
at least one of the user name, phone number and address of the
user.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the display device information
includes at least one of the model name, version, screen
resolution, printing resolution, CODEC and storage medium of the
display device.
16. A method of operating a content-providing device, the method
comprising: performing authentication for a display device that
receives provided content and a user that performs authentication
for a user that views the content; generating identification for a
service request corresponding to the content transmitted from the
display device, and managing service state information for the
identification information; and reconfiguring the screen of the
display device based on the control command of a shopping assistant
that has registered the content for the service request.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the performing of the
authentication includes performing authentication through the user
information transmitted from the display device and the display
device information, and obtaining the screen control authority of
the display device.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the managing of the service
state information includes transmitting the identification
information, the user information, the display device information
and content information corresponding to the service request to the
shopping assistant.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the shopping assistant tries to
connect to the user based on the transmitted information.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of trying to connect
to the user includes transmitting waiting time information to be
waited until there is a try for connection, and transmitting the
waiting time information to the display device.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of trying to connect
to the user includes reconfiguring the screen of the display device
based on the information exchanged with the user when connected to
the user.
22. The method of claim 16, further comprising: receiving
cancellation of the service request of the user; and removing the
generated identification information according to the cancellation
of the service request, and transmitting the cancellation of the
service request to the shopping assistant.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for
shopping, and more particularly, to a system and a method for
shopping, in which a display device transmits control authority for
screen display thereof to a content-providing device, and the
content-providing device receives the control authority and
configures a screen, which includes at least a piece of content,
according to the received control authority and based on any one of
screen resolution and print resolution of the display device so
that the configured screen can be displayed on the display
device.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] With the advancement of the Internet, a wide variety of
Internet sites offering diverse commercial products and services
have been developed and are widely used. Since Internet sites are
loaded on Internet servers, a user may access the servers through
the Internet using a terminal device having a built-in Web browser
(that is, a communication device such as a personal computer or a
mobile phone) to display the sites on the monitor of the terminal
device.
[0003] In this case, the Internet server includes a database
storing various data, and the Internet site includes various link
buttons to the database. Therefore, after accessing the Internet
server, i.e., the Internet site, the user may move to another site
by clicking on one of the link buttons, browse information, or
download data stored in the database as desired.
[0004] In recent years, business-to-business (B2B) or
business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions through Internet sites have
become wide spread. In particular, vendors can now provide an order
system and a payment system on Internet sites as well as detailed
information of their products. Therefore, consumers accessing the
Internet sites can be provided with product information and
purchase and pay for the products from the same site. Meanwhile,
transactions conducted through such Internet sites has expanded
from selling general goods to selling insurance, travel products,
and making reservations. That is, consumers can now be provided
with various services through the Internet, in addition to durable
products.
[0005] However, as consumer preferences are diverse, it is becoming
increasingly difficult to select suitable products and services
based only on the information provided on the Internet sites. That
is, while consumers want to obtain more detailed information about
products and services that they wish to purchase, most Internet
sites only provide general description of products and services.
Thus, it is difficult for the consumers to obtain sufficient
information about the products of their interests to make and
informed decision on the purchase. In particular, discrepancies
between general description and consumer expectations are often
found in insurance and travel products.
[0006] Korean Patent Publication No. 2001-0077585, entitled
"Consumer Consultation System for Electronic Commerce and Method of
Operating the System," provides a consultation system to consumers
in electronic commerce. When a consumer who has accessed a vendor
site through the Internet seeks consultation about a product, the
system can enable the consumer to easily consult with a product
consultant connected to an Internet phone while viewing the same
screen as the product consultant.
[0007] Korean Patent Publication No. 2002-0023695, entitled "Method
of Browsing Shopping Products through Web Screen Sharing and System
for Exchanging Shopping Information," discloses a system and method
for accessing the same electronic commerce server from different
locations using a function of sharing a Web browser screen,
browsing products and exchanging shopping information, and
purchasing products.
[0008] According to these conventional technologies, a consumer and
a product consultant can exchange shopping information while
viewing the same screen, and the consumer can purchase a product
based on the consultation. However, in the conventional
technologies, the screen displayed on a display device cannot
provide shopping information based on the consumer's request and in
a screen display format suitable for the display device.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0009] Aspects of the present invention provide a system and method
for shopping for shopping, in which control authority for a service
request irrelevant to a screen being displayed is transmitted to a
content-providing device via a predetermined communication network,
and the content-providing device authenticates the service request
so that a user and a shopping assistant can exchange information in
real time.
[0010] Aspect of the present invention also provide a system and
method for shopping, in which a shopping assistant configures a
screen, which includes at least a piece of content, based on
obtained information, using a content-providing device and at least
one of screen resolution and print resolution of a display device
and according to the results of a service request, and transmits
the configured screen to the display device so that the configured
screen can be displayed on the display device.
[0011] However, aspects of the present invention are not restricted
to the one set forth herein. The above and other aspects of the
present invention will become more apparent to one of ordinary
skill in the art to which the present invention pertains by
referencing the detailed description of the present invention given
below.
Technical Solution
[0012] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a display device including a display module that displays
content; an information-storage module that stores information of a
device that displays user information and the content; a
content-request request module that transmits the service request
of the user for the content to a content-providing device along
with the information stored in the information-storage module; and
a content-receiving module that receives content corresponding to
the service request.
[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a content-providing device including an authentication
module that performs authentication for the display unit that
receives the provided content and the user that views the content;
a control module that generates identification information for a
service request corresponding to the content transmitted from the
display device, and manages the service state information for the
identification information; and a content-reconfiguration module
that the screen of the display device based on the control command
of the shopping assistant that has registered the content for the
service request.
[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of operating a display device including
displaying content; transmitting the service request of the user
for the content along with the user information and information of
a device that displays the content to the content-providing device;
and receiving content corresponding to the service request
[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of operating a content-providing device
including performing authentication for a display device that
receives provided content and a usr that performs authentication
for a user that views the content; generating identification for a
service request corresponding to the content transmitted from the
display device, and managing service state information for the
identification information; and reconfiguring the screen of the
display device based on the control command of a shopping assistant
that has registered the content for the service request.
[0016] The above and other aspects and features of the present
invention will become more apparent by describing in detail
exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached
drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a shopping system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a display device shown in FIG.
1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a content providing device
shown in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates a method of operating a shopping system
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the method of providing a
service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0022] FIG. 6 illustrates the method of canceling the service
request according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
MODE FOR THE INVENTION
[0023] Advantages and features of the present invention and methods
of accomplishing the same may be understood more readily by
reference to the following detailed description of exemplary
embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The present invention
may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will
be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of the
invention to those skilled in the art, and the present invention
will only be defined by the appended claims. Like reference
numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a shopping system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, the shopping system may include a
display device 100 and a remote content-providing device 130
connected by a communication network 120.
[0026] The display device 100 receives content from a head end (not
shown), which transmits at least one of conventional terrestrial,
satellite and cable broadcasts, and displays the received content
on a screen thereof. The display device 100 may include a
communication interface used to request the content-providing
device 130 to provide a service.
[0027] Also, the display device is provided content related to the
content transmitted from the head end from the content-providing
device 130, and displays the content. In the embodiments of the
present invention, content transmitted from the head end is called
"first content", and content related with the content transmitted
from the head end is called "second content."
[0028] The user can request the first content or the second content
displayed through the display device 100 to the content-providing
device 130 through a button installed in the display device 100.
Here, the user can input user information and the information about
the display device when requesting a service, and the user
information and display device information can be transmitted to
the content-providing device in advance so that the information is
not separately inputted when requesting the service.
[0029] In order to request the content-providing device 130 to
provide a service, a user 110 may input a control command to the
display device 100 using an input module (not shown, for example, a
remote control) that the user has. Accordingly, the display device
100 may transmit display device information and user information to
the content-providing device 130 via the communication network
120.
[0030] The communication network 120, which connects the display
device 100 and the content-providing device 130, may be any one of
a conventional wired or wireless Internet network, a power line
communication network, and a mobile communication network.
[0031] Using the communication network 120 described above, the
display device 100 transmits the display device information, the
user information and content information to the content-providing
device 130. By transmitting the display device information and the
user information, the display device 100 transfers control
authority for its screen display to the content-providing device
130. The content-providing device 130 receives the display device
information and the user information, configures a screen, which
includes at least a piece of content, according to the received
control authority, and provides the configured screen to the
display device 100 so that the screen can be displayed on the
display device 100. Here, the user information can include the user
name, the phone number, etc., and the display device information
can include the model name, version, resolution, CODEC, storage
medium, etc.
[0032] Further, if a service request is transmitted from the
display device 100, the content-providing device 130 can generate
unique identification information (hereinafter, called
"service-request ID") for the transmitted service request. The
service-request ID can be uniquely generated according to the
service request from the user. Further, the content-providing
device can manage the service state information for the user's
service request. Here, the service state information refers to the
progressing state of the service for the user's service request,
and the service state information can include "service request
state", "service waiting state" and "service connection state", but
the present invention is not limited to the examples.
[0033] To this end, the content-providing device 130 authenticates
the display 100 and the user 110. The content-providing device 130
may receive authentication information from a reliable
authentication authority (not shown) as a way to authenticate the
display device 100 and the user 110.
[0034] After the display device 100 and the user 110 are
authenticated, the service-request ID corresponding to the user's
100 service request, content information corresponding to the
user's service request, the display device information and the user
information are provided to a shopping assistant 140 through the
content-providing device 130 or a device (such as a personal
computer (PC)) used by the shopping assistant 140.
[0035] After obtaining the display device information and the user
information, the shopping assistant 140 attempts to contact the
user 110 using any one of a public switched telephone network
(PSTN), a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), and a text message.
Here, if the shopping assistant 140 has received a request of
another user before the user's request, the shopping assistant 140
transmits the remaining waiting time to the content-providing
device 130, and the content-providing device 130 transmits the
transmitting waiting time information to the display device 100 and
changes the service state information to "service waiting state."
Here, the display device 100 displays the transmitted waiting time
information, so the user can confirm the remaining time until the
user 110 is connected to the shopping assistant 140.
[0036] After the abovementioned waiting time passes by, the
shopping assistant 140 tries to connect to the user 110 based on
the information transmitted from the content-providing device 130.
The embodiment of the present invention illustrates a case where
the content-providing device 130 transmits a service-request ID,
user information, display device information, and content
information together, but the present invention is not limited to
the case. Further, the content-providing device 130 can transmit
only the service-request ID to the shopping assistant 140, and the
shopping assistant 140 can request the user information and display
device information to try to connect to the user 110 and connect to
the display device 100 of the user 110, but the present invention
is not limited to the case.
[0037] Further, unless the shopping assistant 140 has received a
service request from another user before the service request of the
user 110, the shopping assistant 140 tries to connect to the user
100 through the abovementioned various methods. Such a connection
attempt is designed to exchange information regarding a service
request with the user 110 in real time, and the shopping assistant
140 is required to contact the user 110.
[0038] For example, while watching a clothing sales program
broadcast on the display device 100, if the user 110 desires to
obtain information regarding how to wear specific clothes that are
being broadcast, the user 110 inputs a control command for a
service request to the display device 100 through an input module.
In this case, the user 110 may input the control command to the
display device 100 by pressing a preset shortcut key on the input
module.
[0039] The service request may be made regardless of a screen
displayed on the display device 100.
[0040] The display device 100 receives the control command for the
service request and provides the display device information and the
user information to the content-providing device 130. Then, the
content-providing device 130 receives the display device
information and the user information and performs an authentication
procedure with reference to the display device information and the
user information. According to the authentication result of the
content-providing device 130, a new service-request ID is
generated, user information, display device information and content
information are transmitted to the shopping assistant 140 along
with the generated service-request ID, so information can be
exchanged between the shopping assistant 140 and the user 110.
[0041] The shopping assistant 140 obtains information regarding the
service request after the information exchange with the user 110,
the shopping assistant 140 tries to connect to the user 110. If
connected to the user 110, the shopping assistant remotely controls
the screen display of the display device 110 based on the obtained
information and using the control authority obtained from the
display device 100 through the content-providing device 130. Here,
the content-providing device 130 can change the service state
information to "service connection state."
[0042] The content-providing device 130 configures a screen, which
includes at least a piece of content about a customized method of
wearing the clothes for the user 110, with reference to the user
information and the display device information (e.g., model name,
version, screen resolution, CODEC, and storage medium) according to
the control authority and transmits the configured screen to the
display device 100.
[0043] The display device information transmitted by the display
device 100 in order to facilitate information exchange between the
shopping assistant 140 and the user 110 may contain predetermined
information (for example, channel information) regarding a
broadcast being displayed on the display device 100. However, the
present invention is not limited thereto.
[0044] If a service relevant to a screen being displayed on the
display device 100 is requested, channel information of the screen
may be contained in the display device information. On the other
hand, if a service irrelevant to the screen being displayed on the
display device 100 is requested, the service request may be for a
service that the content-providing device 130 previously registered
with a service request shortcut key by the user 110.
[0045] Further, if the user 110 intends to cancel the service
request after receiving the service through the service request,
the cancel is requested by a remote-control device or the button of
the display device 100, and the display device 100 can transmit the
cancellation of the service request to the content-providing device
130. The content-providing device 130 deletes the service-request
ID of the corresponding user 100 according to the transmitted
service-request cancellation, and transmits the cancellation to the
shopping assistant 140. Further, the content-providing apparatus
130 deletes the service state information for the service-request
ID according to the service-request cancellation.
[0046] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the display device 100 shown in
FIG. 1.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 2, the display device 100 includes a
display module 200, a control module 210, a content request module
220, an information storage module 230, and a content reception
module 240.
[0048] First of all, the display module 200 is a module that
displays general content. The display module 200 displays a screen
which includes at least a piece of content according to control
authority for the display device 100 transmitted from a head end or
the content-providing device 130. That is, the display module 200
can display at least one of the first content or the second
content.
[0049] Since the shopping assistant 140 has the control authority
for the screen display of the display device 100 when there is a
service request, the display module 200 can also display a screen
controlled by the shopping assistant 140 who has exchanged
information with the user 110. That is, by exchanging information
with the shopping assistant 140, the user 110 can view a screen
displayed in response to the service request of the user 110.
[0050] The control module 210 receives a service request signal
from an input module (not shown) such as a remote-control device or
a button installed in the display device 100, and transmits control
signals to the information storage module 230 and the content
request module 220 so that the display device information and the
user information stored in the information storage module 230 can
be transmitted via the content request module 220. Here, the
present embodiment illustrates a case where display device
information and user information has been stored in the
information-storage module 230 in advance, but the present
invention is not limited to this case. It is possible for the user
110 to input user information when requesting a service, and it is
possible for the display device information to be made when a
service is requested, but the present invention is not limited to
these cases.
[0051] That is, the content request module 220 transmits the
display device information and the user information stored in the
information storage module 230 along with content information
corresponding to the service request of the user 110 to the
content-providing device 130 via the communication network 120. In
this case, information regarding a screen displayed on the display
module 200, that is content information, is also transmitted to the
content-providing device 130. The screen information of the display
module 200 may be channel information displayed on the display
module 200 that the control module 210 referred to when receiving
the service request signal.
[0052] The content reception module 240 receives a screen which
includes at least a piece of content and which is configured based
on information sent by the content request module 220 and according
to the control authority for the display device 100.
[0053] In this case, screens received by the content reception
module 240 are generated by the content-providing device 130 based
on at least one of model name, version, screen resolution, printing
resolution, CODEC and storage medium, which have been received from
the content request module 220, and according to the results of
service requests of the user 110. These screens are displayed on
the display module 200.
[0054] The display device 100 according to the present embodiment
transmits control authority for the display of a screen
corresponding to a service request of the user 110 to the
content-providing device 130 via the content request module 220 and
receives and displays a screen which includes at least a piece of
content generated by the content-providing device 130 according to
the results of the service request of the user 110 and based on
information exchanged between the user 110 and the shopping
assistant 140. Here, such methods as PSTN, VoIP and text message
can be used for information exchange between the user 110 and the
shopping assistant 140, but the present invention is not limited to
these methods.
[0055] Accordingly, the user 110 using the display device 100 can
receive the requested service, that is, view the screen which
includes at least a piece of content generated by the
content-providing device 130 according to the results of the
service request of the user 110 and which is displayed according to
the control authority.
[0056] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the content-providing device
130 shown in FIG. 1.
[0057] The content-providing device 130 configures a screen, which
includes at least a piece of content, according to control
authority received from the display device 100 and provides the
configured screen to the display device 100.
[0058] Referring to FIG. 3, the content-providing device 130
includes an authentication module 300, a control module 310, a
content provision module 320, a content reconfiguration module 330,
and an information storage module 340.
[0059] The authentication module 300 performs a predetermined
authentication procedure based on display device information and
user information received through the content provision module 320.
The authentication module 300 may receive authentication
information from a reliable authentication authority (not shown)
connected by the communication network 120 as a way to perform the
authentication procedure.
[0060] That is, when requested to authenticate the display device
100 and the user 110, the authentication module 300 performs the
authentication procedure and transmits its authentication results
to the display device 100 or the control module 310.
[0061] The control module 310 controls the information storage
module 340 to store the authenticated display device information
and the authenticated user information and provide the
authenticated user information to the shopping assistant 140.
Further, the control module 310 generates a unique service-request
ID corresponding to user information, display device information
and content information for the service request transmitted from
the display device 100, and manages the service state information
for the generated service-request ID. That is, the control module
310 can manage the service state information for the generated
service-request ID as "service request state", "service waiting
state" and "service connection state."
[0062] The user information provided to the shopping assistant 140
is referred to by the shopping assistant 140 in order to exchange
information with the user 110 and may vary according to a
communication network used for the information exchange.
[0063] For example, if the shopping assistant 140 and the user 110
exchange information using a PSTN, the user information may
generally include a wired phone number of the user 110.
[0064] When connection between the shopping assistant 140 and the
user 110 is completed, the control module 310 can change the
service state information for the service request ID to "service
connection state." Further, if the shopping assistant 140 has
already received a service request from another user, the shopping
assistant 140 transmits the waiting time information to the
content-providing device 100, and the content-providing device 130
transmits the transmitted waiting time information to the display
device 100 so that the user can check the waiting time information,
and at the same time, the service state information for the
service-request ID can be changed to "service waiting state."
[0065] As a result of receiving the above information, the
content-providing device 130 or the shopping assistant 140 using
the content-providing device 130 obtains control authority for the
screen display of the display device 100. In this case, the control
authority is used to control the screen display of the display
device 100, that is, display a screen, which includes at least a
piece of content of a 1:1 actual size, based on model name,
version, screen resolution, printing resolution, CODEC and storage
medium of the display device 100.
[0066] The shopping assistant 140, who has obtained the user
information, attempts to exchange information with the user 110
with reference to the user information. Since the information
exchange between the shopping assistant 140 and the user 110 has
been described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a detailed
description thereof will be omitted here. However, it should be
noted that the information exchanged between the shopping assistant
140 and the user 110 may vary according to an information exchange
method used.
[0067] The control module 310 controls the information storage
module 340 to provide the display device information to the content
reconfiguration module 330 in response to a content reconfiguration
command issued by the shopping assistant 140 who has obtained
information regarding a service request from the user 110.
[0068] The content reconfiguration module 330 configures a screen,
which includes at least a piece of content, according to the
control authority and using the display device information stored
in the information storage module 340. The display device
information used here includes at least one of screen resolution
and print resolution and may further include channel information of
a broadcast in relation to which the service request has been
made.
[0069] The content reconfiguration module 330 may configure a
screen including at least a piece of content or specific content
requested by the user 110.
[0070] The content reconfigured by the content reconfiguration
module 330 is transmitted to the display device 100 via the content
provision module 320.
[0071] The content-providing device 130 according to the present
embodiment configures a screen, which includes at least a piece of
content, based on at least one of the model name, version, screen
resolution, printing resolution, CODEC, and storage medium of the
display device 100 and according to control authority received from
the display device 100 and provides the configured screen to the
display device 100.
[0072] Further, if the user 110 intends to cancel the service
request after receiving the service through the service request,
the cancel is requested by a remote-control device or the button of
the display device 100, and the display device 100 can transmit the
cancellation of the service request to the content-providing device
130. The content-providing device 130 deletes the service-request
ID of the corresponding user 100 according to the transmitted
service-request cancellation, and transmits the cancellation to the
shopping assistant 140. Further, the content-providing apparatus
130 deletes the service state information for the service-request
ID according to the service-request cancellation.
[0073] FIG. 4 illustrates a method of operating a shopping system
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0074] Here, FIG. 4 can be understood that the operation is
performed between the display device 100 and the content-providing
device 130 connected by the communication network 120.
[0075] In addition, the user 111 and the shipping assistant 140,
who has control authority for the screen display of the display
device 100, exchange information in real time.
[0076] Referring to FIG. 4, the control module 210 of the display
device 100 determines whether a control signal for a service
request has been input from an input module such as a remote
control (operation S400). Such a service request can be made by
requesting a service for the desired content through an input means
such as a remote control device while the user 110 views the first
content or the second content through the display device 100.
[0077] A service request may be input using a remote control
provided by a display device manufacturer (not shown) or a preset
shortcut key for the content-providing device 130.
[0078] Further, in operation S400 in which it is determined whether
a service request has been made, the user 110 may request a service
irrelevant to a screen being displayed on the display module
200.
[0079] According to the determination result of the control module
210, display device information and user information stored in the
information storage module 230 are transmitted to the
content-providing device 130 via the content request module 220
(operation S410). Here, the content request module 220 can transmit
the display device information and user information along with
content information corresponding to the service request of the
user 110.
[0080] In operation S400 in which a service request is made, if a
service relevant to a screen being displayed on the display device
100 is requested, channel information of the screen is also
transmitted to the content-providing device 130 in operation S410
in which control authority is transmitted. On the other hand, if a
service irrelevant to the screen being displayed on the display
device 100 is requested, the service request may be for a display
screen (channel) that the content-providing device 130 preset by
the user 110 provides.
[0081] When the display device information and the user information
are transmitted to the content-providing device 130, the control
authority for the display device 100 is transferred to the
content-providing device 130. The control authority denotes
authority to control a screen displayed on the display module 200
of the display device 100.
[0082] If the control authority is transmitted to the
content-providing device 130 in operation S410, the
content-providing device 130 performs an authentication procedure
based on the display device information and the user information
(operation S420). Here, if the authentication process is completed,
the control module 310 of the content-providing device 130
generates a unique service-request ID for the service request of
the user 110, manages the service state information for the
generated service-request ID, and changes the service state
information to "service request state" if a service is
requested.
[0083] Using the user information received according to the
authentication result, the shopping assistant 140 exchanges
information regarding the service request with the user 110
(operation S430). Here, the information exchange between the
shopping assistant 140 and the user 110 can be achieved as the
content-providing device 130 transmits the service request of the
user to the shopping assistant 140. Specifically, the
content-providing device 130 transmits the service-request ID, user
information, display device information and content information to
the shopping assistant 140, and the shopping assistant can try to
be connected to the usr 110 based on the information transmitted
when trying to connect to the user 110. Here, if the shopping
assistant has received a service request from another user before
the service request of the user 110, the shopping assistant 140
transmits the remaining waiting time information to the
content-providing device 130, and the content-providing device 130
transmits the waiting time information to the display device 100 so
that the user can check when the shopping assistant will try to
connect to him. Further, when transmitting the waiting time
information, the content-providing device 130 can change the
service state information for the service-request ID to "service
waiting state." Further, after the waiting time passes by, the
shopping assistant 140 tries to connect to the user 110 based on
the transmitted information. Here, the information exchange between
the shopping assistant 140 and the user 110 is made using any one
of a PSTN, a VoIP, and a text message. As a result of the
information exchange, the shopping assistant 140 obtains the
information regarding the service request. Here, the control module
of the content-providing device 130 can change the state
information for the service-request ID to "service connection
state" when exchange information between the shopping assistant 140
and the user 110.
[0084] After obtaining the information regarding the service
request, the shopping assistant 140 configures a screen, which can
be displayed on the display device 100, based on the obtained
information and using the content reconfiguration module 330 of the
content-providing device 130 (operation S440). In operation S440,
the obtained information can be understood to have been requested
through the information exchange between the shopping assistant 140
and the user 110.
[0085] In operation S440, the content reconfiguration module 330
configures a screen, which includes at least a piece of content,
with reference to the display device information stored in the
information storage module 340 of the content-providing device 130.
After the content reconfiguration module 330 configures the screen
in operation S440, the screen is transmitted to the remote display
device 100, which is connected to the content-providing device 130
by the communication network 120, via the content provision module
320 (operation S450).
[0086] Then, the content reception module 240 of the display device
100 receives the screen through the communication network 120 and
displays the received screen on the display module 200 (operation
S460).
[0087] That is, control authority mentioned above in the exemplary
embodiments of the present invention is used to configure a screen
according to the results of a service request of the user 110 and
replace a screen being displayed on the display device 100 with the
configured screen.
[0088] For example, while the display device 100 is displaying at
least one of general cable broadcasts, if it receives screens
configured according to the results of a service request of the
user 110, the control authority is used to control the display
device 100 to display at least one of the screens configured by a
cable broadcasting station or the content-providing device 130.
[0089] Further, if the user 110 receives the desired service
through information exchange with the shopping assistant 140, the
user 110 cancels the service request through the abovementioned
input module S470.
[0090] When the user cancels the service request, the control
module 310 deletes the service-request ID S480. Further, the
control module 310 transmits the cancellation of the service
request to the shopping assistant 140, and deletes the service
state information for the service-request ID according to the
cancellation of the service request.
[0091] FIG. 5 illustrates a method of providing a service according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [0092] As
illustrated, the content-providing device 130 provides the second
content related with the first content displayed in the display
device 100 registered by the shopping assistant 140 to the display
device 100 S510. If the user checks the second content displayed in
the display device 100, the display device 100 transmits the
service request of the user to the content-providing device 130
S520. Here, when the service of the user is requested, the user
information, display device information, and content information
can be transmitted together.
[0093] The content-providing device 130 generates the
service-request ID corresponding to the service request transmitted
from the display device 100, and manages the service state
information for the generated service-request ID S530. Here, the
service state information at the time of generating the
service-request ID can be in "service request state."
[0094] The content-providing device 130 transmits the service
request transmitted from the display device 100 to the shopping
assistant 140 S540. Here, the content-providing device 130 can
transmit user information, display device information and content
information together. If the shopping assistant 140 cannot promptly
try to connect to the user 110, the shopping assistant 140
transmits the waiting time information to the content-providing
device 130 S550.
[0095] When the waiting time information is transmitted form the
shopping assistant 140, the content-providing device 130 changes
the service state information to "service waiting state" S560, and
transmits the waiting time information to the display device 100
S570. Hence, the user 110 can expect the waiting time.
[0096] If it becomes possible for the shopping assistant 140 to try
to connect to the user 110, the shopping assistant 140 tries to
connect to the user 110 through user information and display device
information transmitted together when the service request is
requested S580.
[0097] If the user 110 and the shopping assistant 140 are
connected, the display device transmits the connection information
to the content-providing device 130 S590, and the content-providing
device 130 changes the service state information to "service
connection state" S600.
[0098] Then, the shopping assistant 140 provides the service
desired by the user based on the screen control authority of the
display device 100 transmitted from the content-providing device 13
through information exchange with the user 110 S610.
[0099] Here, in FIG. 5, in the case where the shopping assistant
140 can be promptly connected to the user 110 in response to the
service request transmitted from the content-providing device 130,
operations S550 to S570 can be omitted.
[0100] FIG. 6 illustrates a method of canceling a service request
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0101] As illustrated, in the case where the user 110 has received
a desired service, and does not want to receive the service any
more, the user inputs cancellation of the service request through
the abovementioned input module, and the display device 100
transmits cancellation of the service request to the
content-providing device 130 S710.
[0102] The content-providing device 130 deletes the generated
service-request ID S720, and transmits cancellation of the
service-request transmitted from the display device 100 to the
shopping assistant 110 so that the shopping assistant 140 does not
provide the service any more S730.
[0103] According to the system and method for shopping, a user can
received a desired service without directly controlling the screen
or using a multi-step menu, which is advantageous.
[0104] Also, according to the system and method for shopping, the
results for the service requests can be provided by requested
display devices in real time, which is advantageous.
[0105] The above described exemplary embodiments are for purposes
of illustration only, and are not to be construed as a limitation
of the invention. The scope of the invention is given by the
appended claims, rather than the preceding description, and all
variations and equivalents which fall within the range of the
claims are intended to be embraced therein.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0106] A system and method for shopping according to the present
invention can enable a user to receive a desired service without
controlling a screen in person or using a multi-level menu.
[0107] In addition, the results of each service request can be
provided in real time to each corresponding display device that has
made the service request.
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